Visor structure for automobiles



P 1929. A. B. TOMPKINS 3,793,161

'VISOR STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed April 17, 1925 A Sheets-sheaf,

April 9, 1929. A. B..TOMPK INS VISOR STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed April 17, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet Lmmm April 9, 1929. A. B. TOMPKINS VISOR STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Filed April 1'7, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1N VENTOR A TTORNE Y mmm Aprifi 9, 1929. A. B. TOMPKINS VISOR STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed April 17, 1.925 4 Sheets-Sheet NTOR fiA/J A TTORNEY Patented Apr. 9, 1929..

states arsnr set. V

ARTHUR B. TOIEPKINS, F GRAWFORDSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR 1'0 THE LAPORTE ADJUSTABLE VISQR COMFANY, OF LA FORTE, INDIANA.

visoa scrnco'rnnn non .acrolvronrnns.

Application filed. April 17, 1925. Serial No. 23,790.

This invention relates to improvements in visors for automobiles, and more particularly to such as are adapted for adjustment to increase their efficacy under all conditions.

One of the objects inview is the formation of the visor in a manner to accom-.- modatethe variable expansion of its cover sheeets Vv'llilfi maintaining sufficient stability to enable effective support at one end at-various adjusted positions.

A more detail object is the facilitating of adjustment of the visor to various positions andvarious angles according to light and climatic conditions.

With these and further objects in view.

as will in part hereinafter become apparent and in part be stated, the invention comprises certain novel co structions,combinations and arrangements of parts as subsequently specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the top forward portion of'an automobile equipped with an embodiment of the present invent-ion taken from the side of the actuating apparatus.

Figure 2 is a-detail, fragmentary view of.

the visor and its supporting bracket at the opposite side from'that seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the actuating mechanism and visor supporting bracket, parts being seen in perspective.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken" on the plane indicated; by line tt of Figure 3 on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a View in frontelc'vation of the parts seen in Figure 1, the parts being shown on a reduced scale.

Figure 6 1s a similar new .of a. shght variation of the same, visor supporting brackets reversely bent being employedfor supporting thervisor relative to a Windshield of different length from that seen in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a View similar to Figure 1 of the invention applied to a sedan, parts being brokenaway'and seen in section for disclosing interior structure; v s Figure 8 is adetail, front elevation of the oscillating nut and its bearing bracket.

Figure9 is a View in end elevation of a visor andits bracket and actuating appa- Figure 9.

rat-us in slightly modified form, parts being broken away ano seen in section to. disclose parts in the rear.

Figure 10 is a horizontal section taken on the plane Figure 13 is a plan view of the visor detached, parts being broken away.

Figure 14: is atransverse section taken on the plane indicated by line 1l14 of Figure 13. r 1

Figure 15 is a detail, longitudinal section taken on'the plane indicated by line l 515 of Figure 13. Y i

Figure 16'is a; View similar to Figure 14 of a modified embodiment of the visor.

Figure 17 is transverse section therethrough taken on the plane indicated by line 1717 of Figure 16. I

Figure 18 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section therethrough taken on the plane indicated by line 1818 of F igure- 16.

indicated by line 10-10 of Figure 19 is an end View of a further 1 Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 ndicates the improved visor itself, the details of which w ll be hereinafter set gaging the frame at one point. 2 indicates the top ofan automobile, and 3, 3 the postsfor the windshield. Clamped to each post 3 is easing. 4,;each provided with an up stai'iding bracket frame 5. An angle bracket 6 is 'fixed'to the frameof the Visor 1 at modified embodiment of the visor detached.

forth, the said visor including a rigid frame.

each end-and has an arm lapping the upper end portion ofthe respective bracket arm 5 and pivotally connected thereto, as indicated 7, thepivo-t 7 being preferably an ordinary bolt. The arm ofv the bracket, 6

at one end of the visor 1 is comparatively- .short, as indicated in Figure 2, While the corresponding arm of the bracket 6 at the otherv end 1Spl0V1Cl6Cl with an eXtens1on'8 pro ect1ng"downwardly below the pivot, as

seen in Fi 'ure 1, for receiving actuating apparatus hereinafter described. Each of the brackets 6 has its horizontal arm slotted,

at 9, 9, for adjustably receiving anchoring bolts 9*, 9 (as seen in Figure 13) passing through the slots and through appropriate apertures in the frame of the visor 1. The

and indicated at 6, 6" in Figure. 6, the

brackets 6 being identical with brackets 6 except that brackets 6 have their horizontal arms extending in an opposite direction relative to their pendent arms from the location of the horizontal arms of brackets 63. Tl111S, 11i the brackets 6 are said tohave their horizontal arms extend inwardly, then the horizontal arms 01"; brackets 6 will extend outwardly and afford ample adjustment for accommodating the visor 1 eta single definite length to various cars having windshields. of different lengths, and of a variation in length greater than accommodated by the adjustment afforded by the slots 9.-

' The casings;4- are preferably-each formed of sheet metal n two sections, as seen in detailin Figure 1, thesec'tions being clamped together by bolts 10, 10 about the respective 7 post 3, and that casing lycarrymg the arm 5 to which the brackets (Shaving the extensionS is pivoted is prov ded with a swiveled nut i 11 through which is threaded an ad- "justing screw 12having a'knurled head or manually operated handle 13 arranged inward of the car. The outer end of :the bolt 12 is swiveled in a block 14, which 'block in turn is swiveled to the extension 8 of; the pendent arm ofsthe respective bracket 6; The .nut 11 may be swiveled to the casing 1 1112U1y of various ways, oii'e of Which is shown in detail in Figure 1,

and consists of a lateral trunnion 15 formed integral with the nut 11 and extending through an aperture in the side flange of one of the plates of the casing 41-. -A bearing washer is preferably applied on the exposed portion of the trunnion15, and-a nut 16'is threaded onto the trunnion outside of saidwasher'so as to retain the parts 111 the given position while allowing the nut 11 to be free to oscillate. Forincreasing the length of the bearing in sheet metal, the

material ofthe wall of the flange through "which the aperture is formed for receiving the t-i'i'innioii 15 is'preterably stamped out to form an annular boss providing a bearing17." The block 14: is preferably SlDfll-' larly swiveled to the extension 8Q Thus the visor 1 may beadjusted to any'angle desired merely manipulating the handle 13,

carried by plates 1 and the frame of the visor 1 is so formed, 1

as hereinafter stated, as to insure rigidity ot the visor in any adjusted position notwithstanding the fact that the extension 8 and. actuating bolt; 12 exist only at one end of the vise-r. A Weatherstrip 18 of iiexible material, such as waterprooffabric, is

preferably fixed along the overhanging porrtion ot the roof 2 of the car so as to have its lower edge portion rest on the visor 1, and give or follow the visor iirits various movements.

In Figures 7 and 8, very slightinodification of the structure just above described, the modificationconsisting solely in adaptingthe structure for application to a'sedan. The visor '1 and its supporting brackets are, therefore, identical with that above described and the same ref eronce numerals and desoriptioirwill apply,

The supporting brackets 5", however, are which connected by screws, or other appropriate attaching ,mcans, to the wooden uprights 19 of a se Ono otthe plates 4- is formed with dan. outstanding cars 20 in which are journaled the trunnions oscillating mm 11" through which threaded the operating bolt 12.", the-outer iend portion of which bolt isswivelcd in a swivel block 14- carried by the lowcrend of the for accommodating the passage, aiidlatei'al play ofthe bolt 12, V

In Figures 9 and 10 isshown"ailiurther einbodiment in which tlievisor 1 is pivo ally supported by brackets 6 in the manner heretofore described, but-one of said brackets has its depending arm formed with radial serrations 22 abnut the pivotal connection with the supporting bracket 23, the upper end portion oitsaid supporting bracket being formed with interineshing serrations, and the lower end is carried by a casing 241: clamped tothe wind-shield post, as herein- 1 have illustrated a,

es 7 extension 8.v The upright 191s termed, withian aperture 21' before describediwith respect to the struc- V ture-seen "in Figure 1; llhe arin having the serr trons 22 is provided with the operating extension 25, which is pivotally'engaged at 26 by 'an'areuate link 27 extending through i a slot inthe casin 24L so that thei'inner eiid ofthe link may be graspedand moved'i'n or out by the operator for varying the angu larity of the visor '1. To insure retention of the visor any given position, the bolt forming the pivot at the place of the serrations 22 is engaged by a Wing-1111 3 28, which is designed to be tightened to the required. extent for insuring sutlicient intei'ineshing of the serra ons to retain the'visor 1 where ever positioncdt 1t isiuot the intention to ad ust the nut 28 with every adjustment of the visor 1, but only to give the required tento: manipulate the visor as rcquired'trom sion by the adjustment oi? thenut, and-then within the car without changing the position of the nut 28 until wear or vibration re- 30 near its upper end in which is journaled a shaft 31 extending to a point within the car and provided with an operating head or handle 32. Mounted on or fixed to the shaft 31 between the cars 30 is a worm 33 meshing with a worm gear 34 formed integral with the depending arm of the supporting bracket 6 sustaining the visor 1. The bracket 6 is otherwise identical in structure and function with the brackets '6, and is pivoted, at 35, to theupperend portion of the arm 29. Angular adjustment of the Visor 1 in this construction is accom" plished by arotation of the head 32. V

In Figure 12 is shown a still further embodiment in which brackets 36 are fixed to and depend from the top or roof of the car, and the visor 1 is mounted between and pivotally connected to the brackets 36; A spring 37 is anchored, at one end, to each of the brackets 36, is coiled about the respective pivot, and has its free end resting against the under face of the visor 1 so as ,to serve as a counter-balance fortaking up the excess weight of the visor extending outward beyond the pivot, whereby angu-.

lar adjustment of the visor may .be accomplished with but slight exertion. A bracket similar to bracket 6 is fixed to theframe 1 near one end thereof, and has a depending extension 38 pivoted to a link 39, which link extends inward to a point within the car and is provided with an. operating handle 40. The under face of the link 39 is provided with a series of notches 12. A casing 41-3 is fixed to the wind-shield post of the car and provided with a laterally-extending pin i iadapted to engage in one of the notches 42 for retainingthe link 39 in a given adjusted position, whereby the visor 1 of this construction maybe adjusted angularly and locked in any given adjusted position by merely lifting the link 39 out of engagement with the'pindt and moving the link to a'position with the required notch 4-2 above the pin, and then dropping the d link down into engagement with the pin.

It will be observed that when the visor 1 is adjusted bythe operation of the bolt 12, it will be locked at any of its angular positions as soon as manipulation of the bolt 12 is discontinued. This is dueto the fact of the engagement of the thread of the bolt with the nut 11, such structure forming whatis well known as an irreversible adjusting mechanism. This same result follows the action of bolt 12 and corresponds w th the of the pin 44 in any of the notches 2.

The visor 1 itself is preferably formed of a marginal frame stable material supportln an intermediate web of a 35m )riate lighter material. As seenin detail in Figurcs13 and ll, the frame preferably consists of a steel or like red 15 preferably shaped toform a wide, open U or yoke, and the rod is enclosed in a sheet 47, preferably of relatively thin material, such as aluminum, with the edge portions of the metal outstanding inwardly from therod to form leaves 18, 48, between which is secured the web 49 of the visor, which may be of pyralin, or other translucent or otherwise appropriate thin sheet material. Atthe terminals of the rod 45 are arranged the corner plates 50, which are riveted at 51, 51, to the leaves 48, and are apertured for the passage of the bolts 9 for engaging the slots 9 of brackets 6. When the material of the web 49 is of less length than the full length of the visor, the sheets thereof have their adjoining edges bound by transverse strips 52, 52, preferably of aluminum, or other appropriate material, riveted at 53, 58. The visor thus con'- structed is of unusualstability and the frame made up of the rod 415'and its covering is sulficiently strong to receive all of the shifting stresses at one end and to transmit them form of the visor, the visor being identical with that just above described, except for the fact that instead of being flat, as seen at 1 in Figures 1 and 13, the visor 54- of Figure 19 is arched transversely for more readily deflecting moisture and thus enabling the visor to be more readily positioned for preventing a driving storm from destroying the vision of the driver by de positing moisture on the wind-shield.

In Figures 16, 17 and 18 is illustrated a further embodimentof the visor in which the frame is made preferably rectangular of flatstrips of material 55, preferably steel. The frame is covered preferably by a web 56 of leather, or like material, the leather being passed over and lapped under the sides and ends of the frame 55 and stitched together at 59, 59. Cross strips 57 connect covered from beneath by extra pieces of fabric 58 '(such as leather) appropriately stitched to the ma-in'web 56. j j

t will be understood that the triangular corner plates 50 apertured to receive the bolts 9" and the supporting and actuating apparatus engaged by said bolts will be mounted on said supports, one of said brackets having a portion extending beyond the adjacent pivot therefor, a member swiveled in the outer end of said extended portion, a member swiveled in the adjacent support, each said member being formed with an opening through it at right anglesto the axis on which it swivels and one of said openings being threaded, and an operating .rod extending through and rotatably supported in said openings and having a threaded portion to engage the threads of said threaded opening in one of said mem bers and means to hold it against endwise movement with respect to the other member,

whereby rotation of said rod will swing said 7 extended portion relative to the adjacent support to adjust said visor. 2. In a v sor structure for automobiles, the comb nation with a visor frame, of supports adapted to be secured to the auto1no bile and provided with up-standing arms, brackets for said frame pivot'ally mounted. on said arms, one of said brackets having a portion extending beyond the adjacent pivot therefor, a member swiveled in t'he outer end of said extended portion and formed with an opening through it at right angles to the axis on which it swivels, a member swiveled in the itClJElCGIlt support and formed with a threaded opening through it at'i'ight angles to the-axis on which it swivels, and a'rod threaded 1 through the opening in the last mentioned member and rotatably supported in the opening of the other member and provided with means to engage said other member to prevent cndwise movementwith respect thereto.

In'testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ARTHUR B. TOMPKINS; 

